Improvement in machines for cutting the stalks of standing corn



'W. B. COATES. Com' Harvester.

No. 16,177. 7 Patented Dec. 9.1856.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.-.

WILLIAM B. OOATES, OF. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING THE STALKS 0F STANDING CORN.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 16,177, dated December 9, 1856.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, WILLAM B. OoATEs, of

the city of Philadelphia and State ot'Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machinery for Cutting the Stalks of Corn and other StandiugOrops; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon. My invention relates to improvements upon a machine entitled a hemp-harvester, for which apatent was granted to me on the 15th day of October, A. D. 1850; and it consists in hanging the knife or knives described in that patent to an oblique pin or spindle, so that the knife may have an oblique movement without employing the objectional screws alluded to in the above-mentioned specification. The knife is operated by an adjustable connecting-rod attached to a crank by means of a universal joint, the crank being secured to ashaft, which, by a system of gearing in connection with the driving-wheels of the machine, is caused to revolve as the latter is being drawn over the ground.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of my improved machine for cutting the stalks of corn and other crops; Fig. 2, a ground plan of the same; and Fig. 3, a transverse section on the line 1 2, Fig. l.

The same letters of reference allude to similar parts throughout the several views.

A A are the two longitudinal beams, which, together with suitable cross-ties at each end, form the frame-work ofthe machine. The front of the frame rests on the block B, which is allowed to swivel in the usual manner, and to which the front wheels, 0 and c, are hung.

To the block B is secured the pole D for drawing the machine over the ground. At the rear end of the frame-work, and underneath the same, are secured pillow-blocks a, in which the axle E is allowed to turn, and to this axle, on each side of the frame, are secured the main or driving wheels F and F.

To the axle E, and between the side frames, is secured a cog-wheel, G, which gears into a pinion, H, 011 the intermediate shaft, 0, the opposite ends of the latter turning in the sides of the frame. To the shalt e is secured another cog-wheel, I, which gears into a pinion, J, on the shaft K, which also turns in the sides of the frame. To this shaft K is secui ed a crank, 70, which is connected by means of an ordinary universaljoint, g, to the connecting-rod h. The latter is in two halves, connected together by means ofsleeves z t' and set-screwj, by means of which the rod may be lengthened or shortened at pleasure. The opposite end of this rod his cranked,-the cranked portion fitting into an eye, f,which is so connected to the top of the oblique knife L as to turn freely therein. This knife is allowed to vibrate on the oblique portion of the pin M, (see Fig. 3,) the end of the pin being furnished with suitable nuts and washers, l, for confining the knife to the pin and maintaining it in a uniform oblique position. The vertical portion of the pin M passes through an oblong hole in the plate N and through a similar hole in the outrigger U, to which the plate is confined, the end of the pin being furnished with suitable nuts and washers, m, underneath the outrigger, so that the lateral position of the knife may be adjusted at pleasure. The outrigger extends underneath the frame-work, and is furnished with guide-rods P P, one of which passes through the side beam A, the otherthrough the beam A. The outrigger is also furnished with a screwed rod, Q, which passes upward between the beams and through a cross-piece, n, attached to the latter. Bearing on this cross-piece and adapted to the screwed portion of the rod Q, is the nut 0, the handle of which is within reach of the driver, who sits on the seat R, which is al lowed to swivel on the cross-piece p, the ends of the latter being secured to the blocks (1 q, and these blocks to the top of the side frames, A and A.

On the plate N or otherwise on the outrigger is the curved projection S, and also secured to the outrigger by means of the set-screw r, so as to be adjustable, is another curved projection, T, the former projection being firm and substantial, so as to withstand the action of the knife L, and the latter sufficiently thin to yield and accommodate itself to the different thicknesses of stalks which have to pass between the two. From the underside of the outrigger and toward the rear of the machine project two bars, U and U, and to the ends of these bars are secured the rods V and V, which project with a curve toward the front of the machine and again return with a more abrupt curve toward the outrigger, where they are secured. (See Fig. 1

To the back of the outrigger are secured two brackets, t t, the tops of which are connected by means of rods or Wires u a to the curved rods Vand V. Between the two brackets t t extends a pin on which a roller, 12, is allowed to turn freely. Near the end of the bar U is jointed the lever W, the bent arm of which, when not disturbed ashereinafterde. scribed, extends to the opposite bar, U. The short arm ofthe lever W-is connected by means of the rod 8 to the lower end of the lever X, which has its fulcrum on a pin attached to the side beam A, the handle of the lever being within reach of the driver.

To the brackets 10 w on the rear of the framework is hinged a cradle composed of the two side pieces, Y and Y, connected together by. the horizental rodsac m, and the vertical bars y 3 Through the front end of this cradle and through the brackets 2 2, attached to each of the side frames, A and A, passes a rod, 2, on the withdrawal of which the cradle may be tilted backward. At the backof the drivers seat B is a lever, Z, so arranged in connection with an ordinary clutch-box on the shaft K that by operating said lever said shaft may cease to revolve, although the movement of the machine continues.

Operation: The machine being drawn over the ground with the projections S and T so directed toward a row of corn or other standing crops that the stalks may pass into the opening between said projections, as the machine moves forward a rapid reciprocating motion will be imparted to the knife L by means of the cog-wheel G on the driving-shaft, pinion 11, wheel I, pinion J, crank k, and connectingrod h, and as the knife is hung to an oblique pin its movement must have a corresponding obliquity. By means of the adjustable connecting-rod h the motion of the knife is so regulated that its cutting-edge may, when at the lowest point of its movement, be in very close although not in actual contact with the inner edge of the curved projection S, so as readily to divide the stalks by an oblique out similar to that made by hand-instruments used for the same purpose. This chopping of the stalks continues as the machine advances, and the cut corn or other crop falls with its upper portion on the bent arm of the lever W and with its lower portion on the roller 7;, the bent rods V and V and wires u a directing the cut stalks to the desired position. The outside curved rod, V, also serves the purpose ofdividing the standing crops 'as the machine advances, so that a limited portion of the stalks maybe introduced between the projections S and T. 'When a sufficient number of stalks have fallen onto the lever W and roller 1; to form a bundle the driver operates the lever X in such a manner as to withdraw the curved arm of the lever W to the position shown in dotted lines, (see Fig'. 2,) when the bundle falls to the ground, the falling being facilitated by the turning of the roller '0. The driver now restores the lever W to its former position, when a repetition of the above operations takes place.

Should it be desired to drop the stalks to the ground in shocks or quantities larger than bundles, the driver or an assistant collects the stalks as fast as they are cut and places them in the cradle hinged to the rear of the machine. when this is sufticiently full the rod 2 is withdrawn from the brackets 2 2 and pieces Y and Y of the cradle, and the latter tilted over'.

When it is desirable to alter the height of the cut from the ground the driver operates the not 0, by turning which the outrigger, with its knife and other appurtenances, may be raised and lowered at pleasure; and should the driver be desirous of stopping the motion of the knife without retarding the machine he has merely to throw out of gear the clutch on the shaft K by operating the lever Z.

The various duties to be performed by the driver are considerably facilitated by the swivel-seat R, which enables him to turn partially round and to reach easily any of the handles or levers previously alluded to.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- i The oblique knife L, in combination with the connecting-rod h, universal joint 9, and crank 70, said rod being made adjustable for the purpose specified, and in the manner set forth or any equivalent to the same.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification before two subscribing witnesses:

WILLIAM B. OOATES.

Witnesses:

HENRY HowsoN, WILLIAM E. WALTON. 

